In honor of National Crochet Day, I share with you a quick and fun crochet-related tutorial. . . “Step by Step” stitch markers. It is crazy how many stitch markers tutorials are floating around the web. So naturally, I decided to add another one to the mix. My simple yet retro crochet stitch markers show a little love to one of the biggest boy bands of all time, the New Kids on the Block, and their new fall tour.

I will not have the pleasure of attending this tour, though I did see them back in the early ’90s on their Magic Summer Tour, as proof in the picture above (I’m the one in the grey standing next to Danny), but my sister and her best friend will. And boy are they excited! So Mel and Les, these are for you.

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“Step-by-Step” stitch markers

This is a simple project and fairly inexpensive, especially if you have some of the materials already in your craft stash, so I am including this as a budget craft.

Materials/Tools

round-nose pliers
needle-nose pliers
wirecutter
round plastic alphabet beads
assorted colored beads
heart-shaped beads
head pins or eye pins
S-hooks

Step 1: We Can Have Lots of Fun

Choose the beads you want to use.

Step 2: There’s So Much We Can Do

Place the beads in order on the head pin and cut off any excess wire, leaving about an inch from the top of the bead.

Step 3: It’s Just You and Me

Hold the head pin in the round-nose pliers with one hand. Using the other hand, take the needle-nose pliers and bend the wire to form a small loop.

Step 4: I Can Give You More

Hook the small loop onto the S-hook and tighten the loop by squeezing it shut with the round-nose pliers.

Step 5: Don’t You Know the Time Has Arrived

Ta-Da! You now have your very own stitch marker. To attach the heart: place the heart on a head pin, bend the wire to form a loop, hook the head pin and heart to the loop end of the eye pin, and squeeze shut.

Also, remember if you are making name stitch markers, only six letters fit on one pin. Thank goodness all the guys’ names were six letters or less.

Now go on and make a whole “funky bunch” for yourself and your crocheter/knitter friends. I know that’s Marky Mark but he’s a sibling extension of the group, so I couldn’t resist.

If you make a set of “Step-by-Step” stitch markers, please tag them with #cwchblog and #stitchandpurr. I’d love to see them!

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